LITMIR.BIZ

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for one more minute. She’d never been so unguardedly drawn to anyone, ever. If she wanted his help, she needed to stay businesslike, to act like the thirty-three-year-old professional woman she was, not some hormonal teenager. “Shall we head back to the party?”

      “All right,” he said, although with surprise on his face. “I take it your firm has done work for Scott?”

      “For a number of years.” She led the way down the path toward the pool. She’d been a private investigator for seven years. Her company, ARC Security & Investigations, did consulting and investigative work for many attorneys in the area, especially on high-profile cases.

      “I met him eighteen years ago,” Joe said. “He was my training officer after I graduated from the academy. We stayed in touch for a long time.” They emerged from the trail. “Although I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years. He’s been busy.”

      “I see him more on television than in the office these days, too,” she said, eyeing the crowd mingling around the pool. She didn’t want to ask her favor tonight at the party. She also didn’t dare leave him alone, since Scott might decide to tell him she’d specifically requested he be invited.

      Now what? She couldn’t leave until he did. And she couldn’t wander away. Small talk?

      “Do you know anyone else here?” she asked.

      “No. Did you come alone?”

      I wanted to see you. “Yes.”

      “That surprises me.” He gestured to a couple of chaise lounges. “We should grab those while they’re empty. Can I get you a drink?”

      She’d left hers behind at the waterfall, she realized. “Yes, please. Martini with a twist, extra olives.”

      “I’ll be right back.”

      She’d barely settled on a lounge when Scott sat down on the one next to hers.

      “Did you know he was here?” she asked, watching Joe talk to the bartender.

      Scott looked at her over his wineglass, then took a sip. “Yes.”

      “Is that how you entertain yourself?”

      “You’re a cool one, aren’t you, Arianna?” He settled a little more comfortably. “Controlled. Smart. I’d never seen you ruffled by anything until you found out I knew Joe.”

      “It was a simple favor to ask, inviting him to the party,” she said, wishing she had her drink already, needing the prop.

      “More than that, I think.”

      She hesitated. Joe was walking toward them. “You won’t say anything.”

      “I don’t know how this is going to play out.” He smiled, patted her knee and stood, making room for Joe, leaning to whisper in her ear, “You know he’s not engaged anymore, right?”

      Arianna said nothing. She didn’t know he had been engaged. Was that the reason for the battle-weary look in his eyes? Had he broken it off or had his fiancée?

      She thanked Joe as he passed her the drink then raised her brows at Scott, indicating he could move on.

      Scott grinned. “So, how do you two know each other?”

      “We met during Alexis Wells’s attempted murder last year,” Arianna said, aware of Joe taking a seat beside her and stretching out those long legs. His knee-high black Zorro boots made her smile. “Joe was the detective in charge of the case.”

      “You worked together? The cop and the P.I.? Strange bedfellows.” He met Arianna’s gaze and smiled benignly.

      “We shared information without insulting each other’s profession,” Joe said. “She’s a cut above in her field.”

      “Yeah. Most P.I.s only get to eat what they kill,” Scott responded. “But not Arianna and her partners.”

      “We work hard.” Her irritation grew. She’d always had a great business relationship with Scott. Why was he making things difficult for her now?

      “Scott,” Joe said, his voice quiet but firm. “I like you. But if you continue to offend Ms. Alvarado, she’s going to leave. And I’m not going to like you anymore.”

      A few seconds ticked by, then Scott lifted his glass to Joe. “To the thrill of the chase.”

      Joe stared back.

      “Thanks,” Arianna said when their host walked away.

      Joe shrugged. “Sometimes he doesn’t know when to quit.”

      “I’ve noticed.” She slid a green olive off the toothpick and sucked on it. “Pushing the right buttons is what makes him good in the courtroom, though.”

      “But lousy as a friend sometimes.” Joe leaned toward her. “Would you like to get out of here? Go somewhere quiet?”

      She was tempted. Entirely too tempted. But if she accepted his invitation she couldn’t move the relationship into a business one when she needed to. She had no intention of lying to him or stringing him along. She just didn’t want to ask her favor publicly—or in costume. It was too serious for that. The party had been a way to open a dialogue. “I’d love a rain check,” she said.

      He studied her for a long time. She made herself breathe.

      “Walk me to my car and I’ll give you my number,” he said, standing. “You can call me when the sun comes out.”

      She smiled. “All right.”

      Joe offered her a hand up. He was probably crazy to pursue her. He should at least wait until his life was back on track, yet he couldn’t help but feel she was part of the solution. Wishful thinking, maybe?

      They made their way through the crowded house. He guided her slightly ahead of him with a touch to her lower back, just enough to feel the bones of her vertebrae against his fingertips now and then. She turned and looked at him once, her dark eyes again taking his measure in a way no woman in his memory had. She looked deeply, as she had by the waterfall, without blinking. Did he meet her standards or pass her test or whatever it was she was doing when she looked at him like that?

      They reached his SUV. He got a business card out of his glove compartment, wrote his home and cell numbers on the back and passed it to her.

      “Something on your mind?” he asked when she said nothing. He curled his fingers into his palms, resisting touching her. He wondered how long her hair was. A year ago it was just past her shoulders.

      “You’re different from other detectives,” she said. “I noticed that before.”

      “Different, how?”

      “Quieter.”

      “And not intimidated?”

      She smiled. “Do I intimidate?”

      “Competence is often intimidating.”

      Arms folded, she leaned a hip and shoulder against his passenger door. “I think I’ve been complimented.”

      “You have.”

      “You impress me as well.”

      “I’m glad to hear that.” He moved closer, crowding her space a little.

      She didn’t budge, not even when he slipped a finger under her strap as he had by the waterfall. He focused on the little beauty mark at the corner of her mouth. “This is very pretty,” he said, kissing the spot. He felt her lips part, heard a soft sound, more than a breath catching, less than surrender. He moved his mouth over hers lightly, brushing his lips against hers, pulling back, making her come to him.

      A horn honked. Teenage boys shouted crude encouragement. The only encouragement Joe needed was Arianna’s. When he wouldn’t take the kiss any deeper she placed her hands along his face and held him still.

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